Three districts will receive new leaders this summer
By Annette Bender
Three Holston ministers have been tapped for district superintendent appointments this summer, Bishop Ray Chamberlain recently announced.
At Annual Conference 2003 in June, the Rev. Kim Goddard will be appointed to Abingdon District. The Rev. Ken Henderlight will serve Oak Ridge District, while the Rev. Ron Matthews will be appointed to Maryville District.
Oak Ridge's current district superintendent, the Rev. Gordon Ridenour, will retire this year and assume a position as the conference's first executive assistant to the bishop, Chamberlain announced.
Goddard, 41, has served as Wesley Institute director since November 2000. From 1985 to 2000, she served as pastor at local churches including Otterbein, Trinity Wise, and Aldersgate/Jordan's Chapel.
Goddard's appointment to the cabinet will bring a "fresh perspective," Chamberlain said. "[She] is a product of southwest Virginia and returns to her roots with a deep sense of calling." Abingdon District's current superintendent, the Rev. Brenda Carroll, will be appointed to a local church this summer.
"I am extremely grateful to Brenda Carroll for her leadership and look forward to working with the clergy and laity of a fine district," Goddard told The Call. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Wesley Institute, but I grew up in a small church in Virginia so moving to the Abingdon District feels like going home."
Henderlight, 65, has served as senior minister at Munsey Memorial since 2000. Other pastoral appointments have included senior minister at First Oak Ridge, senior minister at First Johnson City, and pastor at Kern Memorial. Henderlight served the Maryville District as superintendent from 1984 to 1988.
According to Chamberlain, Henderlight brings "wisdom and the maturity of experience" to Oak Ridge and the cabinet. "[He] has distinguished himself over many years as an exceptional pastor, theologian, and preacher."
After spending a combined 15 years in the Oak Ridge District at First Oak Ridge and Kern Memorial, Henderlight said he is "most happy" to return to the area.
"The district has a good cross section of churches with varying memberships, each one vital to the ongoing work of God's coming Kingdom," he said.
"The district also has an abundance of outstanding lay leadership. With the prayers and support of both clergy and laity, my primary goal will be to lead the churches of the district into new arenas of mission and ministry."
Matthews, 56, has served as Holston director of finance/conference treasurer since May 2001. From 1997 through 1998, he served as vice president of development at Holston Home for Children. His pastoral appointments have included Broadway, First Dandridge, and Mountain View.
To the cabinet, Matthews brings the "broad experience of knowing the conference well," Chamberlain said. "[He] comes to us with a rich background."
Matthews thanked Chamberlain, the cabinet and Maryville District leaders for their "expression of confidence."
"This will be a challenging assignment in servant ministry, but one which I humbly accept with an expectant faith in God's providential guidance," he said. "My desire is to see each congregation realize their greatest potential in a Christ-oriented ministry that is both local and global in nature É Pat and I love the people of Maryville District and know many of those with whom we will be privileged to serve."
Maryville District's current superintendent, the Rev. Brian Taylor, will be appointed to a local church this summer, Chamberlain said.
"Both Brenda Carroll and Brian Taylor leave the cabinet with our profound gratitude for their selflessness and insightful service," he said. "They will both be sorely missed but go to their new appointments with our prayers."
Ridenour, 64, has served as Oak Ridge District superintendent since 1997. Chamberlain called him a "trusted and proven pastor and district superintendent," as well as a "skilled administrator and utterly dependable."
"It is no small tribute for him to be named as the first executive assistant to the bishop," he said. "Though new to Holston, the position is in place in other conferences."
Ridenour's responsibilities will be "many and varied in assisting me and speaking for me and coordinating staff functions." In addition to assuming primary staff responsibilities for new congregation development, Ridenour will help with the transition to the incoming bishop who will assigned to Holston in September 2004.
Holston's current director of new church development, the Rev. John Ripley, will return to retirement following Annual Conference, Chamberlain said. "For these three years, he has given far more to this conference than we ever expected in a part-time position. We will miss his cutting-edge consultation on church growth."
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